There are many causes of an upset stomach. The most common causes include indigestion, stomach ulcers, wind or gas, gastroenteritis, migraines, and menstruation. The Chinese have a number of remedies for stomach problems.
When suffering from gastro, it’s best to stay away from food for a couple of days, and give your stomach a chance to fight the bug — just remember to stay hydrated.
Regarding regular digestion problems, there are many strategies you can use for diet and eating habits that can help soothe and prevent an upset tummy.
Mia, from Asian Beauty Secrets, shares some traditional Chinese remedies she knows to help you keep your stomach digesting happily, by eating soothing foods and using her simple massage technique.
Chinese remedies for stomach problems
- Eat slower, take smaller bites, and chew your food well. Overeating stresses your stomach and causes fatigue and indigestion.
- Eat smaller portions, but more frequently. There is a common saying: Eat until you are 80 percent full.
- Try to have your meals at a similar time each day. Your stomach will get used to a certain routine and expect your meals to arrive when it is time.
- Avoid too many processed foods and eat a fiber-rich healthy diet.
- Avoid going to bed with a full stomach. Try to eat three hours before going to bed.
- Digest sitting upright; lying down is not an ideal posture.
- Eat a hearty breakfast and lunch, but keep your evening meal nice and light.
- Don’t do any vigorous exercise straight after eating; give yourself at least 20 minutes to digest.
- Try to drink before and after a meal, but not during.
- Stress will upset your stomach and interfere with digestion, so incorporate activities in your daily life that help you to manage your stress.
Beneficial and soothing foods your stomach will love
- Hawthorn berries, or shan zha in Chinese, help cure a wide range of stomach upsets, including pain, parasites, and infections. They can also ease menstrual and urinary problems.
- Rice is good for treating diarrhea. Congee, commonly referred to as rice water, is a slow-cooked rice pudding with a gel-like consistency and is well known in Chinese medicine for harmonizing digestion.
- Ginger is one of the best foods for the stomach. It promotes better blood circulation to the stomach and helps your stomach’s relaxation and elimination processes. If you get motion sickness or morning sickness during pregnancy, ginger is definitely worth trying.
- Bananas contain pectin, which creates a gel in your stomach, slowing digestion and soothing the stomach lining.
- Papaya helps the stomach maintain an acidic environment ideal for digestion. It also contains enzymes that break down proteins.
- Probiotics will maintain a healthy and balanced biome, which is your stomach’s natural flora. Eating probiotics has many health benefits. However, if you are not used to them, they may actually cause you gas and bloating, but it’s usually only temporary. Gradually incorporate fresh, living yogurt or yakult, pickles, sauerkraut, and other fermented foods into your daily diet.
These tips can help to soothe and prevent mild digestive problems.
If you have already tried these tips, but your stomach discomfort persists, talk to your health practitioner. You should seek medical attention if your pain is acute.
The writer of this story is not a medical professional, and the information that is in this story has been collected from reliable sources — every precaution has been taken to ensure its accuracy. The information provided is for general information purposes only, and should not be substituted for professional health care.
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